HOME PHOTOTHERAPY SERVICES SDN BHD offers you the rental of portable phototherapy lights for treating your jaundiced newborn in the comfort of your own home.
We will set up the equipment for you in your home and advise you on the use of the equipment, procedures and precautions.
This is the first such professional service available for treating jaundiced newborn in Malaysia.
Our equipment is very easy to use.
Many newborns today display the symptoms of jaundice (or, Hyperbilirubinemia) in the first few days after birth.
They appear yellow in the skin and white of the eyes.
The cause of this ailment is the accumulation of bilirubin (one of the two important BILE pigments, formed primarily from the breakdown of HAEMOGLOBIN from red blood cells) in the blood caused by the inability of the infant's immature liver to break it down and pass it from the body.
High level of bilirubin can cause deafness and cerebral palsy (brain damage).
Latest estimates state that about 60% of newborns are affected and 10 - 20% require treatment.
Diet, lifestyle and environment are factors often attributed as the cause of the problem.
In the early 1900's doctors at a London hospital noticed that jaundiced babies placed close to the windows recovered faster than those whose cot were placed further inside.
This was an early documented observation in modern times on the therapeutic effect of the sun's rays for jaundiced babies.
In 1958, The Lancet (British Medical Journal) published a study showing that the blue spectrum was the most effective for the treatment of jaundice.
Manufacturers began to produce this special blue colour which came to be known as 'bilirubin light' (or bililight).
Till this day, blue light is the most common form of treatment for jaundice because of its safety record and non-invasive nature.
Only the baby's skin need to be exposed to the light to breakdown the bilirubin.
While the liver matures in the first few days of life, phototherapy assists by performing this function.
Various methods have been developed to deliver phototherapy to babies.
The 'bank of lights' or fluorescent tubes method remains by far the most widely practiced and most cost effective method of applying phototherapy.
Home phototherapy in not a new concept in healthcare management.
It has been practiced in the US for over twenty years now and is a widely accepted option by medical practitioners.
In fact, home phototherapy can be performed safely and effectively at home by most parents without much difficulty.
Just adhere to our instructions.
Convenience -
In the comfort of your own home, you are free to interact with your baby and your family.
You are no longer separated from your baby during this early stage which is especially important for bonding with your baby.
Furthermore, breastfeeding which is long recognized as the best food for your baby is made easier as your baby can be placed next to you.
Safe and Effective -
Our phototherapy lights have been designed and fabricated by engineers to meet and exceed safety and medical requirements.
The product design is so innovative and effective that a patent is being applied for it.
We believe that it is the most effective and practical portable unit ever made.
Economical -
Depending on the level of healthcare facility you have chosen it would not be an exaggeration to add further RM1,500 to RM3,500 to your final hospital bill for a 4 to 7 days of extra days.
Home phototherapy will cost about one quarter to one third of the overall treatment cost, including your baby's daily visit to the doctor.
The equipment will be set up quickly and easily in your home by our trained technician.
Our nurse will give you the necessary advise and instructions.
In most cases, you'll only need to operate the switch at your socket.
No adjustment is involved.
Although portable in nature, our units are more effective than the standard units used in hospital.
These are your general guidelines; your doctor's instruction should also be followed.
- Avoid Excessive Temperatures
Our units are designed to radiate as little heat as possible on to your baby and safe for non-air conditioned rooms with ventilation.
If you suspect that you baby is too warm or too cold, take an armpit temperature reading.
If your room is air conditioned, set the temperatures on the warmer side.
Protect the Eyes and Gonads
Always have your baby's eyes covered during the phototherapy, as exposure to bright light to an extended period of time will damage the baby's eyes.
The testes area and the ovary are to be shielded with a mini diaper (although no conclusive finding has been made on any adverse effect, this has become a standard practice).
- Ensure Electrical Safety and Equipment Stability
The equipment already has protective safety features.
You only need to operate your socket switch in most cases.
Make sure the cable to the socket is properly secured and no one trips over it.
- Monitor Intake, Urine and Stools
Some dehydration and loose stool is normal during phototherapy.
You should ensure that your baby regains the lost fluids by frequent feedings.
It is best keep a record.
Your baby should not loose more than 10% in weight.
- Turn Over and Examine Your Baby Regularly
Your baby should be turned at least every two hours and fed during the transition.
Apart from giving a more even skin exposure to the light this practice encourages you to closely examine the babies overall condition.
- See Your Doctor As Instructed
Home phototherapy is a joint effort between the equipment supplier, the parents and the doctor.
Phototherapy should commence and stop as recommended by the doctor.
It may be your baby looks yellow to you but does not require further treatment and vice versa.
Never miss the appointment with your doctor.
- QUESTION:
Can I expose my baby to the sun instead of your lights and still get the same effect?
After all we have plenty of sunshine here and it's free.
ANSWER: Although exposure to sunlight will give your baby more than the required level, you will not be able to able to control the ambient condition outside, the heat and the harmful UV light associated with it.
You will also not be able to have phototherapy during days and at night.
Traditionally, parents have made use of only the early morning sunlight.
- QUESTION:
How sure are you that your lighting unit is effective for treatment of jaundice?
ANSWER: The criteria for and effective unit are well documented - correct wavelength, optimum irradiance and good coverage of the infants skin area.
We merely had to follow the established guidelines and innovate a little to produce unique product.
The recommended irradiance range is between 5 and 9 µw/sq cm/nm.
Above this value the benefits are not substantial.
Our portable units produce between 9 (with 3 blue lamps) and 15 (with 5 blue lamp) µw/sq cm/nm with new lamps.
With mirrors at the sides angled to reflect onto the sides of the baby gets more than 8µw/sq cm/nm.
Irradiance measurements are made with a radiometer with a sensor specific for this range of wavelengths.
Lamps are changed every 2000 hours at which they reach 80% of their maximum emission.
All our units are equipped with hour meters to indicate usage time.
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